Studying How Dryland Ecosystems Respond to Changes in Water Availability - Dr. Andrew Felton

Dr. Andrew Felton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences within the College of Agriculture at Montana State University-Bozeman where he is Principal Investigator of the Felton Lab there. Andrew splits his time between teaching and his research lab. His research focuses on dry land ecosystems, which includes deserts, grasslands, and shrublands. Studies in his lab examine how these ecosystems function, what plants and animals are present, and how the ecosystems respond to changes in the availability of water. Climate change impacts the size of precipitation events and increases evaporation through higher temperatures, and Andrew’s lab is also working to understand the implications of these changes for ecosystems that are already water-limited. Living in Bozeman, Montana, Andrew enjoys spending time in the mountains and the beautiful National Parks nearby, including Yellowstone. In the winter, he is an avid downhill skier, and he likes to go rock climbing in the summer. His other hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, reading, drinking great coffee, going out to eat, and spending time with family and friends. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Biology, Society, and Environment. Afterwards, he was awarded his PhD in ecology from Colorado State University. Next, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Utah State University. He then received a U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, and he conducted research at Chapman University before joining the faculty at Montana State University. In our interview, Andrew shares insights and stories from his life and science.